Sunday, April 24, 2016

Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram – The Temple

Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram – The Temple
The temple covers an area of over 23 acres (93,000 m2) with five prakarams and has a thousand pillared hall. The Raja Gopuram or the entrance tower to the temple which rises to a height of 59 meters (192 feet) was built by the Vijayanagar Monarch Krishnadevaraya during 1509 A.D. This Tower is considered as one of the tallest temple towers in south India. The Rajagopuram is facing south and has 9 tiers. Stucco images of Krishnadevaraya and his officials can be seen in the first tier.





The bottom half of the gateway tower has the shrines of Vinayaka and Murugan on either side. Here Vinayaga is on peacock which is very unusual. There are four pillared mandapam and sixteen pillared Mandapam in front of the Rajagopuram. The four pillared mandapam is situated in between sixteen pillared Mandapam and Rajagopuram. From the entrance, there are two halls namely Vahana Mandapam (vehicle hall) and Sarabesa Mandapam (also called Navaratri hall). 





The Aayiram Kaal Mandapam, or the "hallway with a thousand pillars", which was built by the Vijayanagar Kings, is found on precinct after the gateway tower. The flag staff of the temple is axial to the sanctum and diagonally located to the main entrance and the temple tank on either direction. There is a shrine called Thirukachi Mayanam and Kalayana Mandapa, named after Pachaiyappa Mudaliar, both of which are located close to the flag staff. Thirukachi Mayanam, Vaaleesam, Rishabesam and Satyanadeesam are located in four corners of the temple.





The hall of the flagstaff has pillars sculpted with intricate figures indicating various legends and avatars of Shiva. The temple consists of ten pillars in its Prakaram (inner corridor) of this temple which is said to produce ten different musical sounds when it is hit with a stick. The special feature of Ekambareswarar temple is that the roof of this temple contains the twelve zodiac signs. Balipeedam and Nandhi, housed in a Nandi Mandapam can be found facing the sanctum.





Sanctum:
Presiding Deity is called as Ekambareswarar / Ekambaranathar. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. He is worshipped as the Prithivi Lingam. The Shiva Linga made of sand by Mother Kamakshi adores the sanctum sanctorum. The symbol of Mother embracing the Linga is still visible. A Somaskanda panel featuring Shiva, Parvati and Skanda adorns the rear of the main shrine, which has been held in worship for centuries together. On the Ratha Saptami day in the month of Thai (January-February) rays of Sun fall on Lord. There are no idols on the Koshta of the sanctum. Opposite the sanctum is the Spadika Linga facing west and the Spadika Nandhi is located on the prakaram. Procession Deity of Lord Ekambareswarar is in a separate shrine of glass under the Rudraksha Pandal-tent, the roof with 5008 Rudrakshas. There is a second level Rajagopuram, through which we have enter to the sanctum sanctorum.

Mother Shrine:
There is no separate shrine for Parvati within the complex as with all other Shiva temples in Kanchipuram. A local belief is that Kamakshi Amman is the consort for Ekambaranathar.
Other Shrines:
For brief details, please refer below link;
Sthala Vriksham:
Sthala Vriksham (Temple Tree) is a 3,500 Years old mango tree whose branches are said to yield four different types of mangoes from its four branches. The divine tree with its four branches representing the four Vedas yields fruits in four flavors – sweet, citric, spicy and bitter. Unfortunately, the tree is no more alive, but a large piece of the tree has been kept in the mandapam. There is a shrine of Lord Shiva and Kamakshi under the Stala Vriksham. It is situated in the second prakaram.


Theerthams:
Theerthams associated with this Temple are Siva Gangai, Kambai Theertham, Sarva Theertham and Ulagani Theertham. Kampai Tirtha, the temple tank is believed to have an underground holy river.